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NYRB star Cahill defends Australia game style

Tim Cahill says it is unfair to label Australia as a long-ball team ahead of their vital World Cup qualifier with Japan.

The Socceroos take on the Blue Samurai in Saitama on Tuesday and prior to the clash, have been criticised for playing a lot of aerial ball and set pieces.

However, New York Red Bulls star Cahill does not agree with that and says the game plan for their Asian qualifier could all depend on how Alberto Zaccheroni's Japan side come out and how the match is tracking throughout.

"It all depends on them (Japan)," he said when asked if Australia would play the long ball.

"They might be sitting waiting for that. We assess the game as it goes along and you adapt tactically to what's thrown at you.

"Sometimes it's unfair to say we just go to the air a lot because we do tend to play a lot of football.

"But I think when you go down in a game ... you've got no choice but to swing it in the box. And I think that's happened, unfortunately, that we've gone behind on too many occasions and we've had to resort to forcing it.